How it works
Every photograph begins
as an incomplete story.
TraceFront brings together community knowledge, historical sources and AI to gradually piece fragments into a verified historical picture.
The goal is not the largest collection of WW2 photographs. The goal is the best-documented collection of historical context.
TraceFront is not
- ✕A photo gallery
- ✕A social network
- ✕A discussion forum
- ✕A place to collect likes
TraceFront is
- ✓A historical research platform
- ✓A collaborative investigation tool
- ✓A knowledge database
- ✓A system for reconstructing historical events
The research workflow
From photograph to verified knowledge
Under the hood
How contributions become knowledge
Photograph
Someone uploads a historical photograph. It enters the system as an open question — not a fact.
Question
What can we determine from this image? Location, unit, vehicle, date, person? The unknown is explicitly named.
AI analysis
AI suggests hypotheses with probability scores. It is never the authority — only the first voice in the conversation.
AI suggests "Panther — 72% probability". It never says "This is a Panther."
Community hypotheses
Researchers add their own hypotheses backed by visual analysis, archival sources, or expert knowledge.
Evidence
Each hypothesis can be supported or challenged with evidence — NARA records, aerial photographs, memoirs, technical manuals.
Verification
Trusted contributors and experts confirm or dispute hypotheses. A hypothesis only becomes a fact when verified.
Knowledge
The confirmed result links into the broader knowledge graph — connecting vehicle, unit, location, person, event.
The uncertainty model
“Unknown” is a valid result
Not every photograph can be fully identified. TraceFront does not hide uncertainty — it names it explicitly.
Verified by a trusted contributor or expert based on documented evidence.
Strong hypothesis with supporting evidence, awaiting full verification.
Multiple contradictory hypotheses exist. Active research ongoing.
Insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion. The photograph remains open.
AI in TraceFront
AI assists. People decide.
Never
“AI identified this as a Panther.”
Always
“AI suggests Panther. 72% probability. Requires community verification.”
AI can suggest similar photographs, units, locations, or related events. It is never a source of historical truth — only a starting point for human research.
Your contribution
See the impact of your work
Every identification you confirm becomes a node in the knowledge graph.
Example — one photograph can link:
Your identification connected 4 historical entities.
Trust levels
Complexity unlocks gradually
You will not be overwhelmed at first use. Advanced tools open as your contributions are verified.
Observer
New userSee the Discovery of the Week, unsolved photographs, recently resolved cases.
First contribution
ContributorUpload a photograph, add what you know, let AI and community help.
Active researcher
Contributor+Add hypotheses, attach evidence, join research challenges, earn specialist badges.
Trusted expert
Trusted / ExpertVerify hypotheses, access sensitive locations, build Historical Moments and timelines.
Reputation
Quality over quantity
You earn points for
- +Confirmed hypotheses
- +Quality sources cited
- +Locations found
- +Errors corrected
Never for
- ✕Number of comments
- ✕Number of uploads
- ✕Being first to post
Ready to start?
Start by exploring open photographs — or upload one you've been trying to identify.